Foot brush



Sept 23, 1958 M. SHELTON 2,852,793

FOOT BRUSH Filed Feb. 14. 1956 IN VEN TOR. MEARIL SHE UPON BY 4% AP75/WHEY United States Patent Oiitice 2,852,793 Patented Sept. 23, 195@ FOOT BRUSH Mearil Shelton, New York, N. Y.

Application February 14, V1,956, Serial No. 565,432 7 Claims. (Cl. 15-.-106) This invention relates to scrubbing devices and, more particularly, has reference to a brush or sponge device which is especially designed for cleaning of the feet.

In many instances, it may be d iflicult for one to bend over sufficiently for the purpose of cleaning the feet. Accordingly, it has been heretofore proposed to provide a foot brush, which can be used in a bathtub or other locations, for the purpose of facilitating cleaning of the feet by movement of the foot over the brush, while the brush remains in a more or less unvarying location.

T he main object of the present invention is to `provide a generally improved device of the type referred to, which can be conveniently placed in a bathtub,`upon a bathroom floor, or at any other desired location, so that one can clean the sides, sole, heel, and toes of the foot, merely by movement of the foot over the surfaces of the device brush in directions longitudinally and transversely of the device.

Another object of importance is to provide a device of the type referred to which will be particularly shaped `to insure the cleaning of the maximum number of surfaces at a single time, by movement of the foot backend rforth in a single direction.

Another object of importance is to provide a foot brush which, in all forms thereof, will be particularly adapted to permit manufacture of the brush in a single size,`while still permitting efficient use of the brush on feet `of different sizes.

Another object of importance is to provide a f oot'bruvsh as described which will ybe so shaped as to insure a clean-` ing action which will be of maximum etliciency.

`Another object of importance is to provide afoot brush which will, in at least one form of the invention, be so designed as torpermit removal of the toe cleaning portion thereof, or alternatively, longitudinal adjustmentof said portion toward and away from the heel cleaning means of the brush. j

lAnother object of import-ance is to provide, in the toe cleaning means of the brush last mentioned, a tiltable assembly which is adapted both asa brush means and `as a .means for supplying soap or other cleaning agents, duringthe cleaning of the foot.

Another object of importance is to provide, on the soap holding portion of the toe cleaning brush assembly, a depres'sible button associated with a valve in such a manner'as to permit the cleaning materials to be dispersed uniformly through the bristles of the toe cleaning means, sofas to cause a proper ,lather` `to be created'by movement ofthe adjacent portion of the foot over said bristles.

`Still another object is to so form and arrange said valve asvto permit the sameto be Aconveniently depressed by the other foot of the user.

lFor further comprehension of the invention, Vand of the objects and advantages thereof, reference `will tbe had to the following description andaccompanying drawings, and to `the `appended claims in which the various novel v:features -of lthe invention are niorevparticularly Set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a foot brush formed according to the present invention, as it appears when in use, the toe cleaning means being shown in dotted lines in inoperative position, parts being shown broken away. i Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View on line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

l Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view on line 6--6 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. l3, the device is designated generally 26 and includes a rectangular 'base having base sections 28, 29 preferably formed of aluminum, although some other material can be used. The entire device can be placed in the bottom of a bathtub, so as to be partially -or totally immersed in water, or project above the level of the water, so that one may first apply his or her foot to the device for the purpose of cleaning olf surfaces of the foot, and then rinse the foot off in the water, all without the necessity of bending over or otherwise manually exerting oneself for the purpose of rea-ching the foot surfaces to be cleaned.

The base sections 2S, 29 are adapted to be adjusted toward and away from one another to increase or decrease the length of the device, for accommodating the same to feet of different sizes. Embedded in the forward end surface of the rear base section 28 are pins 31, a pair of said pins being provided and being spaced transversely of 4the base as shown in Fig. 2. The forwardly projecting ends of the pins are slidably engaged in rearwardly opening recessesformed in the rear end surface of the base section 29.

Base section 23 is integrally formed at one end with an upwardly curved heel brush 30 having forwardly projecting heel cleaning bristles 32. Bristles 34 areembedded in the upper surfaces of thebase sections.

To prevent slippage of the device upon the bottom of the bathtub, there is provided a rubber mat 36, cornposed of mat sections 33, 35 secured to the undersides of the lbase sections .28, 29, and projecting "forwardly and rearwardly of the front and rear sections respectively as shown in Fig. l. The mat, further, projects laterally in opposite directions from the base as shown in Fig. 2, and thus provides a substantial area in which the mat is frictionally engaged against the bottom ofthe tub, to prevent slippage of the device either forwardly, rearwardly, or laterally when the same is in use.

In `the front end portion of the base section 29 there is formed a longitudinal dovetail recess 38, receiving a post 40 having a tongue 42 at its lower end (Fig. `2) complementing the recess. The post is thus adjustable longitudinally of the recess inthe manner shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 3.

At its upper end, the post has a transverse opening receiving a pivot pin 44, passing through registering openings formed in depending ears 46 integrally provided upon the lower end of a toe cleaning brush 52., The brush 52 is disposed in an inclined plane, with the ears 46 being extended approximately vertically, that is, obliquely vto the plane of the brush body.

In the outer end of the body portion of the toe cleaning ybrush 52 there is formed a cavity 54 with which communicates a filling conduit 56 normally closed by a removable filling plug 58. The cavity 54 is adapted to hold a quantity of liquid detergent, soap, or other cleaning agent, and for the purpose of releasing a selected amount of said cleaning agent there is provided a depressible button 60 integrally formed, within the cavity, with a circumn ferential collar 62 engaging against the top wall of the (cavity. The button is slidably mounted in an opening formed in a raised boss formed upon the top wall of the toe cleaning brush 52, and integral with the collar 62 isa reduced stem terminating at its lower end in a conically tapered valve plug 64 engaging in a complementarily tapered valve opening formed in the bottom wall of the cavity 54. A spring 66 extends about the stem, and is held under compression between the floor of the cavity and the collar 62, so as to normally urgethe button to an extended postion with the valve plug seated ltightly within its associated opening.

Embedded in the underside of the toe cleaning brush are tufts of bristles 68, these being so disposed that when the valve plug 64 is unseated, a liquid so-ap or detergent will flow byV gravity into the bristles, so as to be formed into a lather when one rubs the toe portion of thefoot briskly across the surfaces of the bristles.

If desired, the entire toe cleaning brush can .be adjusted to an out-of-the-way position, about the axis of the pin 44, as shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. l. To this end, there is provided an elongated, forwardly projecting ledge or abutment 70, and when the toe cleaning brush 52 is turned in a clockwise direction about pin 44 from its full line position of Fig. 4, the ledge 70 will engage the brush, after the brush has turned approximately 90, to hold the same in the inoperative position. Then, at such'time as the toe cleaning brush is again to be used, it can be swung in a return direction, and will be held in its operative position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 through the provision of a depending stop iinger Si) formed upon each of the ears 46, said stop fingers being adapted to engage against laterally, outwardly projecting stop lugs 48 integrally provided upon the opposite side surfaces of the post 40.

An upright brush 7l with spirally arranged tufts for cleaning between the toes is mounted immediately behind post 40.

For the purpose of releasing the soap, the button 60 is conveniently disposed for depression by the other foot of the user, so again, there is no necessity of ones bending over.

The toe and heel cleaning brushes are arranged so as to receive the toe and heel portions of the foot in the manner shown in Fig. l.

In use, one places his or her foot upon the .bristles 32 and scrubs back and forth. In order to counteract any tendency of the brush 52 to swing upwardly about the axis of pin 44 when pressure is placed against the bristles 68, one can use the other foot to hold the brush 52 down under these conditions.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

l. A foot brush comprising a base including a plurality of upstanding cleaning bristles disposed over at least a substantial part of the area of said base, a heel brush at one end of the base, and a toe brush carried by the base at the other end thereof, having a connection to the base.

adapted for disposition of the toe brush at different distances from the heel brush, said toe brush being slidably mounted upon the base for adjustment in a longitudinal direction relative to the base, the slidable mounting of the toe brush comprising a dovetail tongue formed upon the toe brush and the base having a dovetail groove receiving said tongue.

2. A foot brush comprising a base including a plurality of upstanding cleaning bristles disposed over at least a dovetail tongue, said base having a dovetail groove to receive said tongue, a post, said post constituting the substantial part of the area of said base, a heel brush at A one end of the base, and a toe' brush carried by the base at the other end thereof, having a connection to the base adapted for disposition of the toe brush at different disportion of the toe brush on which said tongue is formed, and a pivoted brush member carried by said post lfor swingable adjustment toward and away from the heel brush.

3. A foot brush comprising a base including a plurality of upstanding cleaning bristles disposed over at least a substantial part of the area of said base, a heel brush at one end of the base, and a toe brush carried :by the base at the other end thereof, having a connection to the base adapted for disposition of the toe brush at different distances from the heel brush, the toe brush including a dovetail tongue, `said base having a dovetail groove to receive said tongue, a post, said post constituting the portion of the toe brush on which said tongue is formed, and a pivoted brush member carried by said post for swingable adjustment toward and away from the heel brush, the post including stops projecting outwardly there from, one of said stops being positioned in the path of swinging movement of the pivoted brush member in one direction, and the other stop being positioned in the path of swinging movement of the brush member in an opposite direction.

4. A foot brush comprising a .base including a plurality of upstanding cleaning bristles disposed over at least a substantial part of the area of said base, a heel brush at one end of the base, and a toe brush carried by the base at the other end thereof, having a connection to the base adapted for disposition of the toe brush at different distances from the heel brush, the toe brush including a dovetail tongue, said base having a dovetail groove to receive said tongue, a post, said post constituting the portion of the toe brush on which said tongue is formed, and a combined pivoted brush member and liquid cleaning reservoir carried by said post for swingable adjustment toward and away from the heel brush.

5. A foot brush comprising a base including a plurality of upstanding cleaning bristles disposed over at least a substantial part of the area of said base, a heel brush at one end of the base, and a toe brush carried by the base at the other end thereof, having a connection to the base adaptedfor disposition of the toe brush at different distances from the heel brush, the toe brush including a dovetail tongue, said base having a dovetail groove to receive said tongue, a post, said post constituting the portion of the toe brush on which said tongue is formed, and a combined pivoted lbrush member and valved liquid cleaning reservoir carried by said post for swingable adjustment toward and away from the heel brush.

6. A foot brush comprising a base including a plurality of upstanding cleaning bristles disposed over at least a substantial part of the area of said base, a heel brush at one end of the base, and a toe brush carried by the base at the other end thereof, having a connection to the base adapted for disposition of the toe brush at different distances from the heel brush, the toe brush including a dovetail tongue, said base having a dovetail groove to receive said tongue, a post, said post constituting the portion of the toe brush on which said tongue is formed, and a pivoted brush member carried by said post for swingable adjustment toward and away from the heel brush, said brush member being formed with a cavity for holding a quantity of a liquid cleaning agent over said bristles, the brush member further including valve means operable by a user for controllably dispensing said cleaning agent, the valve means including a button depressible by a user, said button projecting upwardly from the brush member in one position of the brush member.

7. A foot brush comprising a base including a plurality of upstanding cleaning bristles disposed over at least a substantial part of the area of said base, a heel brush at one end of the base, and a toe brush carried by the base at the'other end thereof, having a connection to the base 5 adapted for disposition of the toe brush at different distances from the heel brush, the toe brush including a dovetail tongue, said base having a dovetail groove to receive said tongue, a post, said post constituting the portion of the toe 'brush on which said tongue is formed, and a pivoted brush member carried by said post for swingable adjustment toward and away from the heel brush, said brush member being formed with a cavity, said cavity being adapted to hold a quantity of a liquid cleaning agent, the brush member further including a vaive means operable by a user for controllably dispensing said cleaning agent, the valve means including a button depressible by a user, said button projecting upwardly from the brush member in one position of the brush member, said valve means further including a conically tapered valve plug, the cavity having in the bottom wall thereof a complementarily tapered valve seat for said plug, the button and plug being xedly connected and being under spring bias tending to shift the plug to a seated position, said brush member having on the underside thereof a plurality of downwardly projecting bristles so arranged relative to the valve seat as to permit the uniform dispersal of the released cleaning agent through the bristles.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,118,156 Schoepe Nov. 24, 1914 1,569,939 Sperling Jan. 19, 1926 1,954,940 Mikel Apr. 17, 1934 2,210,365 Gilpin Aug. 6, 1940 2,591,331 Baumbach Apr. 1, 1952 

